Allen Iverson Live

Regardless of whether Iverson returns in a Sixers uniform in the future, he still should be ranked highly among the greatest 76ers of all time.  Iverson spent his prime years with the Sixers and ranks #1 in points per game (28.1 ppg), three-point makes and attempts, steals per game (2.3 spg), along with third in total assists, second in total steals, and second in free throw makes and attempts. He led the team to the 2001 Finals, the same year he won league MVP.

Unlike the Celts and Lakers, a lot of the Sixers’ defining players did not spend their entire careers with the organization. Wilt Chamberlain only played three and a half seasons with the team. Moses Malone was there for four years, then came back for a fifth when he was 38 years old. Julius Erving spent the first five years of his career in the ABA with Virginia and New York. Mo Cheeks spent the last four years of his between the Knicks, Spurs, Hawks and Nets. Charles Barkley reached his peak accomplishments (MVP, NBA Finals) after he left Philly.

But nobody besides Allen Iverson gets significantly more love from the Philly faithful.  So where does Iverson rank among the great players mentioned above? Iverson might be the city’s favorite player, but has he had a better career for the Sixers than anyone else? Is he in the top three? Top five?  What are you thoughts?

The Philadelphia 76ers have officially announced that Allen Iverson will not return for the rest of the season. As you all know by now, Iverson has mostly been absent from the team for a month, returning to Atlanta to be with his family as they deal with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah.

Here’s what team president Ed Stefanski said,

“After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply.”

“It has been very difficult for Allen and the team to maintain any consistency as he tries to balance his career with his personal life.”

The 34-year-old Iverson made a tearful return to Philadelphia eager to prove he wasn’t finished after disastrous stints in Detroit and Memphis. He returned to a sold-out crowd dotted with No. 3 jerseys, and showed flashes of his former playmaking self when he ruled the NBA as one of the best guards around. He scored at least 20 points six times—including a 23-point effort in a game against the Lakers that turned into a throwback 1-on-1 duel vs. Kobe Bryant.

Iverson said at a Feb. 15 practice that it was emotionally draining to leave his family to play basketball.

“It was tough to leave her and my wife and kids,” Iverson said. “But I do have a commitment and an obligation to be with my team and to do my job. But it is rough. I think this is the only thing I do in life where for a couple hours during the game I don’t think about nothing but (basketball).”

Today is a sad day for Allen Iverson fans.  We all had hope that Allen would eventually return to the Sixers.  Unfortunately, his family is taking precedence.  Hopefully though, there is still a ray of hope that Iverson will return to the NBA in the future.

The hot topic question of the Sixers these days is Will Allen Iverson return to the Sixers? Tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic at the Wachovia Center had been considered a target date for his return. Iverson, however, did not attend yesterday’s practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

It is unclear when or even if he will return to a Sixers team that is struggling at 22-36. Last week, Iverson left the team for the second time this season to be with his 4-year-old daughter, who is suffering an undisclosed illness.

“I’m sure we will have some discussions in the next day or two about it,” Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said yesterday of Iverson’s status with the team. “Maybe I will talk to [Sixers general manager] Ed [Stefanski] a little bit today and certainly tomorrow while we are in the office.”

Jordan said Stefanski has talked with Iverson, the player’s business manager, and Leon Rose, Iverson’s agent.

Allen Iverson returns to the Sixers line-up tonight after missing five games to be with his ill daughter. Iverson is expected to play Tuesday night against Miami.

Iverson returned to practice Monday for the first time since Feb. 2. Iverson was voted an Eastern Conference All-Starter, but skipped Sunday’s game to spend additional time with his family. He says doctors are still not sure what is ailing his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah.

“It was tough to leave her and my wife and kids,” Iverson said. “But I do have a commitment and an obligation to be with my team and to do my job. But it is rough. I think this is the only thing I do in life where for a couple hours during the game I don’t think about nothing but (basketball).”

Coach Eddie Jordan says he has not decided if Iverson will start against the Heat.

Iverson said it was tough to miss the All-Star game, won by the East in front of a record 108,713 at Cowboys Stadium.

“In my heart, I wanted to be there,” he said. “I wanted my daughter and my kids to see me be there. I wanted my wife to have the opportunity to see something like that. I just think the bigger responsibility was to be with my daughter at that time.”

Iverson had been in Atlanta with his family. He refused to disclose his daughter’s illness, but said she will soon be treated at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.

“I can tell she’s getting better. Once we got home, she did a lot of running around, but physical things, with her hands and her feet, I can tell something’s wrong,” Iverson said. “She’s energetic and everything.”

Allen Iverson has helped the Sixers win two games in a row since he was voted as a starter to the All-Star 2010 game. Iverson had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists in the 76ers’ 107-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

More importantly, Iverson is winning the respect of his team mates.  His team first approach with the Philadelphia 76ers has earned him respect from his teammates and fans.

“He means a lot more than his numbers,” Philadelphia coach Eddie Jordan said. “His spirit gives us momentum, his spirit gives us confidence, it gives us a sounding board, it gives us a calming effect. He means a lot.

“He’s special to us. He’s not the Allen we used to know back in 2001, but he adds leadership, toughness and some experience.”

Iverson, whose reputation took a hit in recent years after turbulent stops in Detroit and Memphis, has impressed his 76ers teammates with his maturity.

“He’s been great with us,” said Philadelphia forward Elton Brand, who scored 23 points. “You hear the rumors and stories over the years, and it’s great to see him in this light because he totally has a positive image to me.”

“The most important thing is for us to take it one game at a time and not try to look forward,” Iverson said. “I think the sky’s the limit.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Allen Iverson scored 17 points as the Sixers beat the Kings 98-86. The Sixers seem to be gaining some momentum in the last couple games, and they’re able to get stops on the defensive end.

Iverson’s line: 17pts, 6Ast, 34Min.

“On the defensive end of the court, we just got stops,” Allen Iverson (17 points) said of his team’s play in the fourth quarter when the Kings made only four of 12 shots. “We were able to get some momentum down the other end of the court, and that’s the most important thing for us, to try to get stops and try to run again and not have to play against halfcourt defense, not have to play against zones. Obviously, that’s not what we want to do. It’s hard for teams to guard us when we have so many scorers on the floor.”

In other news, Dalembert felt some personal peace that family members were alive. But hearing the first-hand accounts of the extreme death and destruction in earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince has left the NBA’s only Haitian wanting to help his countrymen so much more.

My heart and wishes go to the people of Haiti.

This just in: Allen Iverson’s contract with the Sixers will be guaranteed for the remainder of the season, as reported by the Sixers.com Twitter account:

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that Allen Iverson’s contract with the team will be guaranteed for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, no further terms of the deal are disclosed.

“Since his arrival, Allen has done everything asked of him and has been an excellent teammate,” Stefanski said.

Iverson (6-0, 165) has started nine games for the Sixers this season, averaging 15.7 points, 4.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 33.2 minutes per game. He is also currently shooting a career-high 46.5% from the floor.

Full Story Here

There has been speculation out there that Allen Iverson will be release by the Philadelphia 76ers because of his non-guaranteed contract. They can release him anytime before Jan. 10 without his contract being guaranteed for the rest of the season.

However, there is no indication that the Sixers owner will be releasing Iverson any time soon. In a recent interview with Ed Stefanski, the owner of the Sixers, Stefanski won’t say what he’s going to do, only that, “We still have time to make a decision.”
But reading between the lines indicates that Iverson will remain a Sixer.

“He’s been a great teammate and has done everything we’ve asked of him,” Stefanski said. “On the court, he’s practiced. During timeouts, he’s encouraging guys. Having Allen in there brings a calmness to the team. He makes other players feel better about themselves.”

Let’s hope that Iverson will remain on the Sixers after this week. Stay tuned.

How did Allen Iverson come back from his brief retirement? What motivated him to come back? That’s what Marc Spears explores in his article: Allen Iverson was beginning to enjoy retirement. And he didn’t foresee himself returning to the NBA unless one team – his beloved Philadelphia 76ers – wanted him back. Had the Sixers never called, Iverson figures he’d still be back in Atlanta happily hanging out with his family, done playing basketball.

“Retirement was the best for me,” said Iverson, whose official retirement lasted about a week. “[Philadelphia] is the only thing that could have brought me back, to play in this situation right here. I felt like I was having the time of my life.

“I always thought that once I gave the game up that it would be miserable for me and I thought about how I would miss it. But at the time that I was out, I didn’t miss it because my family took over all of that. Just being there with my family every day, being able to see my kids and my wife whenever I felt like it, it was a great feeling to me.

“No obligations. No media. None of that type of stuff. It was a good feeling, man.”

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In Allen Iverson’s first game back from knee injury, Philadelphia rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 104-93.

Philadelphia (8-22) shot 75 percent during the third quarter and made 26 of 40 shots after halftime as the Sixers wiped out Portland’s 10-point lead in the third quarter.

The return of Iverson appeared to give Philadelphia a boost. Iverson’s first game since Dec. 16 wasn’t easy for the 34-year-old guard.

“Once I got my second wind I was all right. The first couple minutes I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest,” said Iverson, who in 31 minutes also handed out five assists and collected four rebounds.

Philadelphia lost three of four games with Iverson sidelined.

“Having Allen back helps. He’s a finisher. He can get to the line and get the ball to guy at the right time. We’ve missed that,” Brand said.

Allen Iverson’s line: 19Pts, 5Ast, 4Reb, 31Min

This is amazing stuff.  The contract pen used by Allen Iverson to sign his new 76ers’ contract on Thursday is being auctioned off at Sixers.com to benefit Sixers Charities and the Comcast-Spectacor Foundation.

This exclusive item — only available through Sixers Charities — was used by Iverson on December 3, 2009 to sign his free agent contract prior to his press conference where he was “re-introduced” as a Sixer. For those that know their writing implements, the actual pen is a Cross ballpoint pen. What’s more, the pen box, which is included in the audtion deal, is signed by Iverson — in tears.

Currently, the auction has the latest bid at $260 – that’s one damn expensive pen!